Relevansi Konsep Akidah Imam Al-Ghazali dalam Al-Iqtishad Fi Al-I'tiqad terhadap Pendidikan Agama Islam

Abstract

Social media has reached people across all boundaries. This makes it easier for them to communicate without barriers. On the one hand, this convenience has positive effects; on the other hand, it has negative consequences. In Islamic teachings, Al-Ghazali authored a work on creed that teaches moderation in matters of faith, namely the book Al-Iqtishad fi Al-I’tiqad. Thus, this book is relevant to the aforementioned issue. Therefore, the focus of this study is on the concept of faith in Al-Iqtishad fi Al-I’tiqad and how this concept relates to Islamic Religious Education. This is a qualitative study in the form of library research employing content analysis. The results of this study show that the concept of faith presented in the book Al-Iqtishad fi Al-I’tiqad is a faith based primarily on sharia evidence (dalil syariat) or revealed evidence (dalil naqli), supplemented by rational evidence (dalil aqli) to reinforce the sharia evidence. This faith centers on three main topics. First, regarding the proof of God’s existence, His having no beginning, His eternity, the fact that God’s form is not a substance (jauhar), a body (jism), or an accident (aradl), God’s visibility, and His oneness. Second, regarding the seven attributes of God, namely power (qudrah), knowledge (ilm), life (hayah), will (irodah), hearing (sama’), sight (bashar), and speech (kalam). These seven attributes are distinct from Allah’s essence; although distinct, all these attributes are inherent in that essence. All these attributes are eternal, including the names derived from them and their corresponding actions. Third, regarding Allah’s actions that are permissible but not obligatory, including creating beings, imposing religious obligations, sending prophets, granting rewards, inflicting punishment on innocent animals, and others. All these concepts are supported by rational arguments. The relevance of these doctrinal concepts to Islamic religious education is, first, related to the strengthening of a holistic faith; second, to the strengthening of faith within the context of religious moderation; third, to the strengthening of faith through rational thinking; and finally, to emulating the attributes of God in shaping religious character.